Queenscourt Hospice has announced a recovery plan aimed at securing its long-term future following necessary changes to address an annual funding deficit of £2 million.

As part of the first stage of the plan, the hospice has completed a reduction in staffing and will reduce its Inpatient Ward capacity from ten beds to five from July 2026. Changes have also been made to Queenscourt at Home, Outpatient, Housekeeping and Catering services.

Support from the local community has helped reduce the number of staff redundancies originally anticipated and has enabled the hospice to retain important elements of its Therapy Service. However, significant long-term funding remains essential.

A Path Forward

Having completed the initial steps needed to align expenditure with income, Queenscourt is now focused on recovery and sustainability.

Key priorities include:

• Working with NHS partners and hospice collaboratives to secure more sustainable funding
• Strengthening income generation and fundraising activity
• Operating as efficiently as possible whilst maintaining high-quality patient care
• Raising awareness of the hospice’s impact and supporting national campaigns for fair and sustainable hospice funding from Government

Sam Hawksley, Executive Director of Strategy & Business Development, said:

“While changes have been very difficult, they were necessary to protect the future of Queenscourt. Our focus is now on recovery and ensuring that we can continue to provide Specialist Palliative Care for local people with life-limiting illnesses, when they need us the most.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support shown by our staff, volunteers, and the wider community during this challenging time. Donor support in response to our crisis has made a significant difference to our charity, helping us to start planning the way forward, so that Queenscourt care continues”.

Current service levels have been designed to maintain excellent Specialist Palliative Care whilst safeguarding the hospice’s long-term future.

Community Support Remains Vital

Queenscourt’s Directors and Trustees have thanked the community for its continued support and emphasised that ongoing fundraising and advocacy will play a key role in the hospice’s recovery.

“If just 8,000 people donated £5 a week, we could bridge our £2 million funding gap and help secure the future of hospice care in our area,” added Sam.

Queenscourt remains committed to supporting patients and their families across West Lancashire, Formby and Southport and is confident about its future.

QUEENSCOURT CARE CONTINUES…

How to Help

To support Queenscourt Hospice, visit queenscourt.org.uk/donate or call the Fundraising Team on 01704 517420. Further information about supporting hospice funding and advocacy, is available via the Queenscourt website www.queenscourt.org.uk/kqis